Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Off to The North Pole...

...and by North Pole I really mean the Midwest. We leave for Iowa on Christmas Eve morning. I am praying that the terrible snowy, icy weather does not affect our flights. In the mean time, I hope that you have all watched Christmas Vacation a few times, had a few delicious cups of hot cocoa, wrapped gifts (and possibly even accidentally wrapped up your cat... and unwrapped immediately of course) and are officially ready for Christmas morning to arrive.

I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!!


Luke 1:14
And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Party Pictures

So our Ugly Christmas Sweater Party was a succes.. minus the fact that it's exceptionally hard to find sweaters in Florida.
Here are some pictures of the foods/drinks that we served.
Chocolate Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting
Recipe found here.

White Chocolate Dipped Pretzels, which were a HUGE hit! (sorry for the blurry photo!)

Our "Be Merry" Cocktails, which we ended up using Cranberry Cocktail Juice, Vodka, Lemonade Concentrate, Sprite & Cranberries. It was soo yummy!

Deviled Eggs, my FAVORITE! :)
Cheese & Crackers Tray and also mini Cranberry Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Recipe found here.
All in all, we had such a fun night & can't wait to do it again next year!

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Merry Christmas...

Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. Kiss My Ass. Kiss His Ass. Kiss Your Ass. Happy Hanukkah.

I sincerely hope that you have all seen Christmas Vacation enough times so that you are not utterly offended by this picture.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

New Favorite Recipe!

Be sure to read all the way through & be sure to let me know how it turns out when you try these at home! :)
***
Jose Cuervo Christmas Cookies

1 cup of water, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 cup of sugar, 1 tsp salt
1 cup of brown sugar, 4 large eggs, 1 cup nuts, 2 cups of dried fruit
1 bottle Jose Cuero Tequila

*
Sample the Cuervo to check quality. Take a large bowl, check the Cuervo again to be sure it is of the highest quality {pour one level cup and drink}.
*
Turn on the electric mixer. Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl.
*
Add one peastoon of sugar. Beat again. At this point it's best to make sure the Cuervo is still ok, try another cup just in case. Turn off the mixerer thingy.
*
Break 2 leggs and add to the bowl.
*
Chuck in the cup of dried fruit. Pick the frigging fruit off the floor.
*
Mix on the turner. If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaters just pryit loose with a drewscriver.
Sample the Cuervo to check for tonsisticity. Next, sift two cups of salt, or something. Who geevsashit. Check the Jose Cuervo.
*
Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts.
*
Add one table.
*
Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink. Whatever you can find. Grease the oven. Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over. Don't forget to beat off the turner.
*
Finally, throw the bowl through the window, finish the Cose Juervo and make sure to put the stove in the wishdasher.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Getting in the Christmas Spirit

With the blizzard like conditions in the {North Pole} Midwest right now, I am struggling with our 75 degree weather. How is one supposed to be in the Christmas spirit when you still have to drive with your air conditioning on?!

With our Holiday party just around the corner & lots of Christmas shopping & wrapping left to do, I am really appreciating all of the things that put me in the Christmas mood!
For one, Home Alone! Such a classic, so much Christmas music & festive things happening, I can't get enough of this movie every year! And seriously, how about that house?! Bananas!!

Eggnog Lattes from Starbucks, Christmas Moose pajamas & having Christmas lights on at all times are also some of my favorites!
What puts you in the mood for Christmas? :)

Monday, December 7, 2009

More Party Planning

We are still in the process of planning our gathering this weekend, and now what I'm really looking for is some fun games! Any Suggestions?

{Photo Courtesy of Sundance}

THE MENU
The Salty: Mini Sandwiches, Bacon Wrapped Smokies, Deviled Eggs, Crackers & Cheese/Dip, Popcorn, Beer
The Sweet: Sugar Cookie Cut Outs, Dipped Pretzel Rods, Cupcakes, Cranberry Champagne Punch

I'm super excited for the party & can't wait to decorate for it!

In other news... THE IOWA HAWKEYES ARE GOING TO THE ORANGE BOWL! Couldn't be more excited about this considering it's here in FL & I'll actually get to go! I feel like Christmas came early when I found out yesterday! So as of January 4th.. we are off to MIAMI! I'm beyond excited!! :)

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Eat, Drink & Be Merry!

This year, we are going to be having our first Christmas party, and I could not be more excited! It's going to be an Ugly Sweater theme, complete with lots of food, drinks & hopefully games! I plan on rocking an outfit similar to Ellen's festive attire on Christmas Vacation.

In planning the menu, I found this great recipe that I think is going to be used for our Christmas punch. It calls for champagne, cranberry cocktail & lemonade concentrate. Yuhhhummm!

For food, I would like to make some sort of mini sandwiches. {any ideas??} I also got a recipe for some little smokies that are a-mazing, thanks Jill! Using one package of little smokies & one pound of bacon, you cut the bacon in thirds & wrap one small piece around each little smoky & fasten it with a toothpick. Then you put brown sugar on them & bake for 40 minutes. That is some serious deliciousness, folks.

I also have an amazing baked brie recipe that is a must have {I will share the recipe as soon as I locate it}. It is so yummy served warm & I'll be able to keep it warm during the whole party using my ever-so-handy Dining Stones. I plan on having some other salty munchies, possibly a popcorn bar? Dipped pretzels & sugar cookie cutouts are also on the menu.

I am no where near finished with the menu, so suggestions are appreciated! Also, I'm really hoping for some fun games... any ideas in this department? I thought doing a Christmas Vacation quote-off would be fun but turns out there are actually people who haven't seen it. Can't quite imagine not wanting to say "bend over and I'll show ya" every time someone asks me where I'm gonna put all the random junk that I buy.

Oh Christmas Tree...

...Mini Christmas Tree that is! I love love love these tiny little trees! Especially in this first picture, which is probably my favorite Christmas room of all time.

Since I can't have a real tree inside this year, I am on the hunt for one of these little guys to put on our porch. {I would put one in every room if I could!} I can't wait to share pics once I find the perfect one!

Our house is soooo festive & I just can't get enough! Hope you're all having a great weekend!
Photos courtesy of Country Living.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Houdini Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to comment number SIX.... Michelle at Vintage Junky! Email me your information at livingbettertogether at gmail.com :)
Thank you to everyone who left a comment ..I wish I had 15 to give away so all of you could have one!
Happy Friday!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

The Holiday

Please tell me you have all seen this movie! Soooo puts me in the Christmas mood! This cozy cottage is where I wish to spend my holidays!

And this bedroom... I die!!

Ahh! And this bathroom! I want to be here listening to Christmas music drinking some Moscato D'Asti... asap!

Is this one of your favorite movies as well?